Collapsible bed

Abstract

A collapsible bed for selectively and alternatively being configured in an erected state and a collapsed state, and including a foldable top panel configured to fold along a first axis, and a base assembly configured to be coupled to the foldable top panel, the base assembly including a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel, wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the first side panel is laterally spaced from the second side panel, wherein the first and second side panels are configured to be pivotally coupled to the foldable top panel along respective second and third axes substantially parallel to the first axis, and wherein the front panel is configured to be pivotally coupled to the first side panel about a fourth axis, the fourth axis being substantially orthogonal to the first axis when the collapsible bed in in the erected state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible bed for selectively and alternatively being configured in an erected state and a collapsed state, the collapsible bed comprising:
 a foldable top panel configured to fold along a first fold axis; and   a base assembly configured to be coupled to the foldable top panel, the base assembly comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel, wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the first side panel is laterally spaced from the second side panel, and the front panel is between the first and second side panels,   wherein the first and second side panels are configured to be pivotally coupled to the foldable top panel along respective second and third fold axes substantially parallel to the first fold axis, and   wherein the front panel is configured to be pivotally coupled to the first side panel about a fourth fold axis, the fourth fold axis being substantially orthogonal to the first fold axis when the collapsible bed in in the erected state.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel is substantially parallel to the second side panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is orthogonal to the first and second side panels when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the first fold axis is along a widthwise direction of the foldable top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable top panel is symmetric about the first fold axis. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the second fold axis is laterally spaced from the first fold axis. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible bed of  claim 6 , wherein the third fold axis is laterally spaced from the first fold axis such that the first fold axis is between the second and third fold axes. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the front panel is laterally biased from a center of the first and second side panels. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible bed further comprises a first locking mechanism configured to fix a position of the front panel with respect to the second side panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the foldable top panel defines a substantially flat surface, and the first, second, and front panels are substantially orthogonal to the foldable top panel. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible bed further comprises a second locking mechanism configured to fix a position of the front panel with respect to the foldable top panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the foldable top panel and the base assembly together define a storage chamber configured to store objects. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible bed of  claim 12 , wherein the front panel comprises a frame and a door configured to be pivotally coupled to the frame, and wherein the door is configured to permit access to the chamber when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the collapsed state, the first and second side panels are further configured to couple to respective distal portions of the foldable top panel at distal ends of the first and second side panels opposite from edges pivotally coupled to the foldable top panel. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible bed further comprises third and fourth locking mechanisms configured to fix a position of respective ones of the first and second side panels with respect to the foldable top panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein, in the collapsed state, the collapsible bed has a length substantially equal to half of a length of the foldable top panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable top panel comprises a protrusion along each of distal portions of the foldable top panel, wherein each of the protrusions extends in a direction parallel to the first fold axis and is on a side of foldable top panel opposite from the front panel when the collapsible bed is in the erected state. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the foldable top panel is greater at a distal portion than at a center of the foldable top panel. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible bed of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable top panel comprises a first top panel and a second top panel, the first and second top panels are configured to be pivotally coupled together along the first fold axis, each of the first and second top panels comprising an upper surface and a lower surface. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible bed of  claim 19 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the collapsed state, the upper surface of the first top panel faces the upper surface of the second top panel, the first side panel faces the lower surface of the first top panel and the second side panel faces the lower surface of the second top panel. 
     
     
         21 . The collapsible bed of  claim 19 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the collapsed state, the front panel faces the first side panel. 
     
     
         22 . The collapsible bed of  claim 19 , wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the collapsed state, the fourth fold axis is substantially parallel to the first top panel. 
     
     
         23 . A collapsible bed for use in a vehicle and for selectively and alternatively being configured in an erected state and a collapsed state, the collapsible bed comprising:
 a foldable top panel configured to fold along a first fold axis; and   a base assembly configured to be coupled to the foldable top panel, the base assembly comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel, wherein the first side panel is laterally spaced from the second side panel, and the front panel is between the first and second side panels when the collapsible bed is in the erected state,   wherein the first and second side panels are configured to be pivotally coupled to the foldable top panel along respective second and third fold axes substantially parallel to the first fold axis,   wherein the front panel is configured to be pivotally coupled to the first side panel about a fourth fold axis, the fourth fold axis being substantially orthogonal to the first fold axis when the collapsible bed in in the erected state, and   wherein, when the collapsible bed is in the erected state, the first side panel and the foldable top panel define a first recess, and the second side panel and the foldable top panel define a second recess, the first and second recesses being laterally separated by the base assembly, and each of the first and second recesses being configured to accommodate a seat portion of a chair of the vehicle.   
     
     
         24 . The collapsible bed of  claim 23 , wherein the foldable top panel comprises a protrusion along each of distal portions of the foldable top panel, the protrusion extending in a direction parallel to the first fold axis and on a side of foldable top panel opposite from the front panel. 
     
     
         25 . The collapsible bed of  claim 24 , wherein the protrusion is configured to rest on a window rail of the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The collapsible bed of  claim 23 , wherein the collapsible bed is configured to be portable and capable of being carried on the vehicle when in the collapsed state.